Not anymore because ✨sertraline✨ but anything from transport of any kind, cars, busses, trains, planes. Cinemas, restaurants, parties, gatherings. Any event that I was required to attend, like not optional. Basically after years of therapy and medication it all came down to me being a control freak and not liking situations that I didn’t feel in control in.
I am old and uniquely non-technological, and when I have to call Apple Support for help on my iPad or phone (I lack the confidence to look Online for suggestions) I actually start to sweat. Their support people are actually quite polite, helpful and patient. My grown son once observed, “Mom, you’re the smartest person I know. Why does technology freak you out so much?” My answer was that I supposed that intelligence is sometimes like the two sides of a coin, I.e., if you’re adept at something (in my case, philosophy), maybe your brain is poor at whatever requires a different kind of understanding.
Ordering food. I practice it over and over so I know what to say. But then panic in the moment that I’ll fumble over my words. It rarely ever happens, but my anxiety tell me this time will be when it happens again.
Unexpected change of plans… I was planning a relaxing weekend with nothing to do. Whoops guess i’m seeing my in laws friday, friends saturday, and my family sunday. By god just aaaaaaaarrrrrrgggg. It’s like this often and i have a hard time saying no.
Driving through for anything other than food, where you have to have like back and forth conversations through a glass separating us??? Like pharmacy or drive thru weed pick up
going into a store and realizing there’s only one other person in the whole store, the worker. not sure why but my brain turns off, i walk around pretending to look and get out quickly
Going grocery shopping. I think about mass consumerism, assembly lines, microplastics, Animal cruelty, obesity, red dye effects, etc. Then there’s always too many people, noises and lights. Fucking anxiety free for all!
Comments
Crowded rooms
When someone says “can we talk later?” with no context.
Unexpected other people.
Being the first to arrive at a social event. I will literally do laps around the block.
“Ok so let’s go around the room and introduce ourselves…”
When the Bluetooth to my headphones doesn’t connect fast enough and my music starts BLASTING out loud.
Not anymore because ✨sertraline✨ but anything from transport of any kind, cars, busses, trains, planes. Cinemas, restaurants, parties, gatherings. Any event that I was required to attend, like not optional. Basically after years of therapy and medication it all came down to me being a control freak and not liking situations that I didn’t feel in control in.
fear that my food will get stuck in a vending machine !
fear i’ll be the idiot who can’t unchain the shopping cart at Aldi !
Making phone calls…. I need to rehearse that shit a million times.
Holding the door open for someone who’s just far enough away to make it awkward.
Talking to any woman that isn’t my GF or related to me
Other people.
When I’m walking somewhere and someone is walking just as fast behind me… like do I speed up? Let them pass??
Actual phone calls
Driving
Crowded parking lots
Trying to open a bag of chips quietly in a silent room.
Seeing someone I sort of know in public and having to decide whether to wave or pretend I didn’t see them.
Humans.
When your boss wants to speak with you in their office.
Just the letter “K” in a text
Sex
receiving a phone call
Checking my mailbox
Going to the store
Seeing a person I know and trying to figure out if I should speak to them or not!
Jury duty
Joggers.
Human interaction
The TSA.
Waking up
Two people trying to talk to me at the same time
Finding parking
Everything in this thread
Eating with other people or some where there lot of people
Going to the office 😑
Driving
Someone ringing the doorbell unexpectedly.
People coughing.
Thanks 2020.
Chocking at home on food, or my own saliva. That’s how they’ll find me.
Driving in traffic.
Calling certain family members
Sundays
Every step in dating.
Pulling into an automatic car wash bay. Trying to hit those rails properly with my tires 😱
Talking to others
Being around people in general. I’m autistic. Everything makes me anxious.
Making phone calls.
The interstate
An unknown person knocking on our front door
Not knowing the parking situation.
I am old and uniquely non-technological, and when I have to call Apple Support for help on my iPad or phone (I lack the confidence to look Online for suggestions) I actually start to sweat. Their support people are actually quite polite, helpful and patient. My grown son once observed, “Mom, you’re the smartest person I know. Why does technology freak you out so much?” My answer was that I supposed that intelligence is sometimes like the two sides of a coin, I.e., if you’re adept at something (in my case, philosophy), maybe your brain is poor at whatever requires a different kind of understanding.
Calling someone.
Dogs.
Anxiety.
Glitter
Pick up trucks with American flags
Talking to people on the phone for the first time. Even though I may have interacted with that person multiple times before in person
When someone raises their voice or changes their tone every so slightly.
Walking into an elevator with people already inside
Driving
Receiving a phone call from an unknown number
Drinking games at parties and get togethers, makes me want to leave immediately
Flying/Airports
Working with the public
When someone asks me to get them food and says something like “just grab whatever”
A document I need to complete.
People
Ordering food. I practice it over and over so I know what to say. But then panic in the moment that I’ll fumble over my words. It rarely ever happens, but my anxiety tell me this time will be when it happens again.
Walking to my fucking mailbox. Hello social anxiety, the second I walk out my door.
Puking
Grocery store
Matching with a guy on a dating app.
Is his first message going to be sexual and disgusting? Are we going to chat a bit, then he sends a disgusting sexual message?
When will he get disgusting?
Driving to work in the morning.
Sitting on a bridge in my car
Leaving my house. I feel like I’m tense from the moment I walk out to the moment I walk back in.
Sleep
Thinking that I emotionally hurt someone though I’m protecting myself
Getting a phone call instead of a text. I will stare at it ringing like it’s a bomb.
Going up on escalators
My son making a sandwich
Crowded grocery stores
Any crowded place.
going to Costco
Sink full of dishes
Ordering something new, I’m anxious that I will be wasting money if I don’t like it and forced to eat it.
Unexpected change of plans… I was planning a relaxing weekend with nothing to do. Whoops guess i’m seeing my in laws friday, friends saturday, and my family sunday. By god just aaaaaaaarrrrrrgggg. It’s like this often and i have a hard time saying no.
Trying to color something inside the lines. I turn 41 in a week.
meeting new people outside of work, introducing myself, being in crowds
Strong coffee
When out walking around and I come to a spot that’s just a touch too tall to step down and I have to take a tiny leap.
Toes
I’m going to stop by your house real quick
Making calls to set up appointments of any kind.
Waiting for the elevator
Going to work
Driving through for anything other than food, where you have to have like back and forth conversations through a glass separating us??? Like pharmacy or drive thru weed pick up
Backing out of a parking spot in a busy lot
When I’m a passenger princess and the driver slams on their brakes too soon.
Having to hug everyone when saying hello/goodbye
When my phone rings while at work…i assume its daycare telling me my kid is sick/hurt and i need to go get them
Conversation. Even before I speak to them I would think of their facial expressions, reactions, my next line and their next line. This is a problem
The sound of knocking door
walking in public
LA traffic. Ugh!
Dogs barking
cafeterias // crowded restaurants
calls from unknown numbers
going into a store and realizing there’s only one other person in the whole store, the worker. not sure why but my brain turns off, i walk around pretending to look and get out quickly
The sound of police sirens
Highway driving
Waiting in line alone with a bunch of strangers
“Got a second?”
Someone wanting me to hang out. I immediately go into anxiety mode. I fucking hate myself.
Balloons. Globophobia is insane, y’all lol
The mail
Being around and/or communicating with my mother.
Going grocery shopping. I think about mass consumerism, assembly lines, microplastics, Animal cruelty, obesity, red dye effects, etc. Then there’s always too many people, noises and lights. Fucking anxiety free for all!
My doorbell ringing when I am not expecting a food delivery.